Leveling man-hole cover system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A leveling man-hole cover system facilitates the top of a man-hole cover being flush with the surrounding surface of a street. The cover rests on a riser and prevents the entry of liquids to the man-hole with the aid of a seal. The riser has threads that attach with the threads of a base to allow for the height adjustment to the lid. The base sits on the top of a preexisting or common ring of a man-hole.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to man-hole cover systems, and more specifically, to a leveling man-hole cover system for ensuring the top of the cover is flush or even with the surrounding road or surface.

2. Description of Related Art

Man-hole cover systems are well known in the art and are effective means to restrict entry to a sewer or drainage tunnel below a street or sidewalk. For example, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional adjustable man-hole cover system 101 having a ring 103 with a ridge 105 that surrounds a man-hole 107. An adjustment collar 111 is configured to fit on the ring 103 and support a lid 109. During use, the collar 111 is used to raise the resting height of the top of the lid 109. Multiple collars 111 can be added to further raise the height of the lid to be flush with the nearby surface 113.

One of the problems commonly associated with system 101 is its limited use. For example, while the collar 111 can be produced in various heights only a custom collar or set of collars will produce a flush surface this requires long delays or exact planning. Frequently this results in having a not quite flush surface because the collar(s) are not the proper height.

Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of adjustable man-hole cover systems, many shortcomings remain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a common adjustable man-hole cover system;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a leveling man-hole cover system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is s detail cross-sectional view of the system of FIG. 2 enlarged for detail;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional side views of the base and riser of FIGS. 2 and 3 in use;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the preferred method of use of the system of FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the base of FIGS. 2 and 3.

While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional adjustable man-hole cover systems. Specifically, the system of the present application enables precise adjustment to the height of the top surface of the lid to ensure a flush fit with the surrounding surface. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise.

The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 2 and 3 depict cross-sectional side views of a leveling man-hole cover system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that system 201 overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional adjustable man-hole cover systems.

In the contemplated embodiment, system 201 includes a riser 203 that is in threaded communication with a base 213. The threads 301 of the riser 203 and the base 213 enable adjustment to the height of a lid 209 with respect to the surrounding surface 113. The base 213 is configured to rest on the ring 103 of an existing man-hole 107.

The riser 203 also having a wall 205 rigidly attached to the top of the riser 203. The wall 205 is configured to secure a sleeve 207 and lid 209 to the riser 203. The lid 209 has a groove 303 around the outer circumference fashioned to hold a seal 211 in place. The seal 211 fits between the lid 209 and riser 203.

It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is that base 213 and riser 203 allow the lid 209 to be made flush to the surrounding surface 113.

It will be appreciated that anther of the primary advantages of the invention is its adaptability to existing manhole installations. It is able to be installed without removing the existing ring anchored in a street. If a city or town must resurface the street and raise the elevation by two inches or more, the present invention allows work crews to avoid tearing out the existing manhole ring. The base 213 and riser 203 are installed, the riser 203 is elevated with the lid 209, and then lay down a new concrete or asphalt road. With this change in elevation, the sleeve 207, which could be made in different widths, keeps road surfacing materials (concrete or asphalt) from falling into the gap between the elevated riser 203 and the ring during construction, protecting the threads 301 of the present invention.

The present invention is aimed primarily at solving the problem of re-surfacing streets. When re-surfacing streets, frequently the elevation is changed from what it was to begin with. Only when the street is raised precisely by the thickness of the available spacers, can prior solutions be used. The present invention can accommodate any increment of elevation change, without the need for using such using spacers and without going to the expense of tearing out and re-setting the ring in the street.

Another unique feature believed characteristic of the present application is that lid 209 with seal 211 and sleeve 207 prevent the entry of debris or liquid to the man-hole 107. Sleeve 207 is used during installation to close the gap between riser and ring when adjustment between the new surrounding surface and lid 209 top is excessive.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B the adjustment of the base and riser are depicted. The riser 203 rotates with respect to the base 213 as depicted by motion A, so that the threads of the riser 203 and base 213 force the riser to move vertically with respect to the base as depicted by motion B. In this manner the height of the top of the lid 209 is adjusted to be level or flush with the surrounding surface 113.

Referring now to FIG. 5 the preferred method of use of the system 201 is depicted. Method 501 including placing the sleeve in the ring 503, threading the riser in the base 505, placing the base and riser on the ring of a man-hole 507, adjusting the riser with respect to the base to ensure the top to the lid is level with the surrounding surface 509, attaching the seal to the lid by placing it in the groove of the lid 511 and placing the lid in the riser 513.

Referring now to FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment of the base 213 is depicted. Embodiment 601 have a base with holes 603 and 605 penetrating the wall. The holes 603 605 allow the use of fasteners such as bolts to secure the riser in place with respect to the base 601.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. 

What is claimed:
 1. A leveling man-hole cover system comprising: a base with a threaded surface that attaches to a riser via the threads so that the base rests on a ring of a man-hole and the riser is adjusted vertically with respect to the base; the riser having in a wall attached to the top creating a ledge; a lid that sits on the ledge of the riser with the top surface of the lid flush or level to the surrounding surface; wherein the sleeve is used during installation to keep wet concrete, asphalt and other debris from collecting around base; and wherein the riser and base enable the precise adjustment of the lid with respect to the surrounding surface.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lid has a groove around its circumference wherein a seal is held.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the riser has a plurality of holes through which locking fasteners pass through and secure the riser to the base.
 4. A method of leveling a lid of a man-hole given the system of claim 1, comprising: placing the sleeve outside the riser; threading the riser in the base; placing the base and riser on the ring of a man-hole; adjusting the riser with respect to the base to ensure the top to the lid is level with the surrounding surface; attaching the seal to the lid; and placing the lid in the riser. 